[IRCA] Cook Island DXpedition-- Australia/ NZ Loggings & MP3's (Part Four)

[Gary DeBock <d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

     This is the final group of Australian and New Zealand loggings made with Ultralight gear during my DXpedition to Aitutaki island in the Cook group from April 8-13. As reported previously, Kiwi propagation was outstanding every evening, resulting in strong reception of stations like the 200 watt 1440-Moana and the 400 watt 1458-RNZ. There was even a chance to go after the 100 watt 1566-Norfolk Island and the 200 watt 1566-4GM stations at sunrise, but during a rare fade of the 3NE mega-pest the two low power stations apparently were so strong with the salt water propagation that they ended up blanking each other out.

     The original plan had been to investigate all of the MW frequencies in the evening, but unscheduled Polynesian dinners were booked by my wife on a couple of days, eating up some sunset skip DXing time. As a result the frequencies from 1179-1368 and 1503-1692 were mostly overlooked at night, although 1566 got some serious attention in the morning. The mega-pest 3NE wiped out any chance of receiving anything exotic. The situation on 1431 kHz was much better, with no DU's even showing up on the frequency during the entire trip (1430- KMRB in San Gabriel, CA was the nighttime occupant). As a result it was a piece of cake to track down the BBC Korean service on 1431-Mongolia at 1632 on April 11 (at a near S9 level). Thanks again to Kiwi English translator Theo D., whose Maori deciphering skills made all the difference in identifying 1440-Moana.


1377  Radio Sport   Levin/ Kapiti, NZ, 2 kW   Local ads and a promo for Commonwealth Games sport coverage at 0803 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/n10gl1ok4wg4feo69ve999dknb982wde

1386  Radio Tarana   Auckland, NZ, 10 kW   The Kiwi big gun pounded in with female-voiced local ads in English and male Hindi speech at 0806 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/9a3myg4nwzptp2jckmdnlpo2datmpdax

1395  Newstalk ZB,  Oamaru, NZ, 2 kW   Good level with female-voiced news and male-voiced ID at 1:10, with promo of Commonwealth Games sport coverage at 0810 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/tiesp5tmnigghdog2spx1zxxfxbese86

1404  Rhema   Invercargill, NZ, 5 kW   Another good signal with Christian music and local ads at 0813 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/qoxlo02gy396wp5weocmnrmdx3ev2kfi

1413  Newstalk ZB   Tokoroa, NZ, 2 kW   Male-voiced news // 1035 at 0819 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/td3jhm3ad49uaoiuagzea4zk7r8xbtry

1440  Radio Te Reo O Tauranga Moana, Tauranga, NZ, 200 w   In one of the more bizarre moments of the entire trip, the 200 watt Maori station hijacks the frequency from Radio Kiribati at the 50 second point in the following recording (at 0807 on 4-11)  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/2jpcqtll1odzjbrxak8u00brzpqr2uba

1449  RNZ   Palmerston N., NZ, 2.5 kW   Strong signal with female-voiced news // 567 at 0837 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/40nmrktl0qgcawrx2iwjwdcziqop7pez

1458  RNZ   Westport, NZ, 400 w   Amazing signal (for 400 watts) with female-voiced news // 1449 at 0841 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/9ewn2baonkqjcirnux6toly2m06ccr0q

1476  Trackside TAB   Auckland, NZ, 5 kW   Horse payout report followed by live race at 0843 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ekhhx7xmuoteg8p0w4vlr3d5xqd4x4m5

1485  Trackside TAB   Gisborne, NZ, 1 kW   Good level with horse racing results at 0846 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/ja3gihauoxre7kxxeqe1hvmp05t9u5gx

1494  Radio Sport   Timaru, NZ, 2.5 kW   Commonwealth Games soccer coverage (NZ-Australia) mixing with Star's Christian music at 0849 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/6hihjntpnhr02lihpc1dx4rhwrbt6v29

1494  Star   Hamilton, NZ, 2.5 kW   Christian vocal music under Radio Sport's soccer coverage at 0849 on 4-11  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/6hihjntpnhr02lihpc1dx4rhwrbt6v29

1566  3NE   Wangaratta, Australia, 5 kW   This was the major pest blocking any attempts at reception of India. The "Australia Overnight" program ID at 1:40 (and Rick Springfield's music prior to that) are at typical strength  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/qdch9evwszf8h0sei1t7gd6x0lhfkvh8

1566  UnID-DU   During a rare fade in 3NE's obnoxious signal at 1641 on 4-12 an attempt was made to record a mix of two other DU English stations, possibly the 100w Norfolk Island and 200w 4GM. This was the wacky result (in a mix with HLAZ's Chinese)   https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/hysvrh4f7i8u16f3740ch5azam0iervx

1701  Radio Brisvani   Brisbane, Australia, 100 w   Presumed the one with South Asian music at 1645 on 4-12  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/6pmgn2a89jlr3savncx0axkkigicotxl


73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (DXing on Aitutaki, Cook Islands)

All loggings made with a 7.5" loopstick C.Crane Skywave SSB portable  https://dreamcrafts.box.com/s/oephl2ru7ejk31saxdq2tijqx9db0ros

 
_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx